In this day and age, there are many solutions that homeowners can take advantage of in order to thwart burglars. These precautions range from the use of high-security locks to surveillance cameras. The security that you use will definitely depend heavily on the type of home you have and the type of security threats that you face. However, one of the best ways for homeowners to stay protected from criminals these days is through the use of an integrated security system.Integrated security systems are essentially security systems that allow for communication between multiple devices. This action creates a faster data relay and it also allows homeowners to have central control over their entire home, rather than having several different security devices set up at different locations.An integrated home security system takes advantage of smart door locks, surveillance systems, motion sensors, and a host of other things, in order to deliver a complete security package that will help homeowners outsmart even the most well-prepared burglar. Let’s take a look at some of the ways an integrated home security system will help homeowners thwart burglars:Faster Response TimeIntegrated home security systems give homeowners the advantage of time. But what good are the methods to secure your home, if no one is going to respond when it is attacked? The time your security affords you can be better utilized by receiving alerts faster, so you will have a larger window to respond to the threat.For instance, if someone is tampering with the smart lock on your front door, a warning message will be relayed through your integrated system to you, which affords homeowners the time to call the authorities or engage secondary security protocols (if applicable).In some cases, a burglar might be able to successfully bypass your smart locks without you being alerted, but they will still have to contend with motion sensors, surveillance cameras, and a host of other deterrents. One of the biggest advantages of an integrated system is that every component is a great backup to all the other parts. Due to the fact that everything will be integrated and connected, you will receive alerts much faster, and this will afford you the time to act accordingly to keep your family and property safe.Central ControlIn addition to the points discussed above, integrated home security systems give homeowners the ability to centrally control their security devices. Many of these integrated systems allow users to customize their security protocols and tailor them to their specific security needs. This helps keep homes better prepared for all kinds of unauthorized people who may want to gain access. It also gives homeowners the ability to centrally monitor everything that is going in their homes and get real-time updates in case anything goes wrong. This allows homeowners to engage security protocols or even call the authorities whenever they get an alert, all while receiving information and data at a central location, rather than from 4 or 5 different devices.It might be hard to figure out how to set up an integrated system with centralized control capabilities, so you should contact the right type of professional to assist you. Make sure that you hire a licensed security contractor to avoid fines and potential jail time. This goes for the other aspects of the integrated security such as tasks like surveillance cameras set up and smart lock installation. If every part of the security is not working properly, the central control will not do much good.Remote ConnectivityAnother great tool that integrated home security systems give homeowners is the ability to remotely connect to their security devices. In most cases, it could be that homeowners might be able to connect to only one of their security devices, but with an integrated system, they have full control and access to every device. This allows them to safeguard their homes even if they are not around or in close proximity. The simple truth is that most burglars choose to strike when there is no one at home. This is why it is important to have a system in place that allows you to monitor your security at all times, from anywhere.Remote connectivity will allow homeowners to receive status alerts from their systems, and it will also allow them to execute system actions when they are away. For instance, if someone breaks into your home and you receive an alert, you can choose to call the authorities and alert them to the presence of a burglar within your home.There are many homeowners who come back from vacations or business trips only to discover that their entire home has been turned inside out. For those homeowners that have integrated security systems, they have an ability to thwart burglars that many are not privy to.Enhanced Analytics​Now, enhanced analytics gives homeowners an advantage over burglars, but not in the way most people would expect. In this context, analytics is simply referring to the information that is garnered from each of the security devices you might have in your home. This data might seem inconsequential to some, but it helps give you an idea of the state of your devices. It will also give insight into how effective these devices are at tracking movement and people. The security devices that make up a home security system each track specific forms of data (a smart lock could track the number of people that access the lock on a daily basis), and this data could be used to figure out if there are any malfunctions within any of these devices.​Also, this data can show homeowners the parts of their homes that might be blind spots or the parts that experience a lot of foot traffic. With this information, homeowners have the ability to map out their security ahead of time and make sure that there are no kinks in their system that burglars can take advantage of.

Conclusion

An integrated home security system comes in handy in several different situations and it is definitely an asset for any homeowner. It is nearly impossible for homeowners to have their eyes out in every corner of their home, but having an integrated system will help them cover more ground while doing less.

Ralph Goodman is a security expert and lead writer for the Lock Blog, the #1 locksmith blog on the Internet. The Lock Blog is a great resource to learn about locks, safety, and security. They offer tips, advice and how-to’s for consumers, homeowners, locksmiths, and security professionals. Ralph has been featured widely throughout the web on sites such as Business Insider, Zillow, Bluetooth, Apartments.com, CIO, and Safewise.